Chapter X
"The art of war is of vital importance to the State."
"
The Art of War
"
~by Sun Tzu~
Grandfather and I ate in a small tea-house outside the walls of Shiro no Shotoku. It was a secluded spot preferred for private meetings. We caught up on everything that had happened while I was away. Apparently my mother had become very popular at home. It had started with the short visit Daiki mentioned. Then Eita. Then Yoshio stopped by when he was in town. Pretty soon all of the Daimyo visited her when they were in town. She had to hire on more staff because all of the lords would bring their personal courts with them sometimes.
Apparently she was tired of it all which made us laugh. I'm not sure why. It was something about my poor mother who only ever wanted to be left alone in peace suddenly forced to play host, constantly, to nobility. That was hilarious. Grandfather also informed me that Eita had been named Koga Shogun and was getting married as well. But soon we had to talk about upcoming business.
"Hiro san, the next step in your training is to infiltrate the fencing school of the Nigata."
"Domo arigato, Sensei sama."
"It was not my doing but your own." He was smiling with great pride.
"How so, Grandfather?"
"Your performance in the Bei-oshi has caught the attention of our Daimyo. He has offered this great responsibility as a further test of your skills."
It was a great honor. Most students got ronin organizations or armies of the Houses. These were fairly easy to infiltrate, but yielded little information.
"Is there anything you can tell me that I should know about this assignment?"
"Not really," he shrugged. "They want you in place before the fencing school starts. Collect what information you can and await further orders."
"How long do I have?"
"Two weeks before classes begin. You will have to get there on your own." He smiled again.
Another little test. Toshi no Nigata was about a week's walk from here. So even being generous I did not have a lot of free time.
"Yes, Grandfather. It is a great honor."
"It lays at the edge of the Bandai lands, near the Honshu border. The Koga will be able to make great use of you there." Another smile. My success would add greatly to his standing in the House. That made me happy.
"Is there anything else I need to attend to before I depart for the mission?"
He thought a moment. "No. All things considered you should have plenty of time to get
everything ready. What do you think you will do?"
"The 'peasant servant' option is just too useful to pass up so I have to try to sneak in as a
heimin if I am to have our best shot at good information. Even so, it will be very exciting to meet and live with the Bandai for a while." I smiled.
We finished our meal and walked to Yoshio's court, as he had requested my presence when it was convenient. When we entered I was awe struck at how different he was from the last time I saw him in court. He was wearing the black kimono I had given him and was in the middle of settling an issue with a merchant. He was not cruel but he was firm. His bearing was one of competence which was such a reverse of what I had imagined. Somehow I had pictured him as still acting the coward. I'm not sure why, but it was very refreshing to have that image erased.
We bowed to the Daimyo who upon returning it handed the court to his Shugodai and escorted us to his private suite. He was very happy to hear I would be in town for a week. Home was too far to go to and still return in time but this was a very close second. Yoshio also offered to help in any way he could. We had a very nice visit for a couple of hours with Yoshio and his family. Then his servants showed me and Grandfather to a suite we could share near the family suite at the end of the evening.
I spent the next week getting my things in order, checking in with Taiki at "The Loyal Koga," mapping out the best route for a peasant to take to Toshi no Nigata and other little details. Taiki had received the Daimyo's family at his tea-house the very next day after I borrowed his apron. He was incredibly honored. And when Yoshio informed him he did it at my request, he was incredibly confused.
That week was a magnificent break from the last year. I practiced my kata in the mornings and visited my friends in the evenings. I enjoyed playing with Wajima-ko and his mother seemed to be... flattered? That I liked his company. He was a little ball of fat. What was there not to like? Anyway, I did make sure to force Yoshio and his family on a couple of visits into the town. Sometimes nobility forget to visit the very people they protect.
Eventually the week passed and I had to leave for the dueling school. I made my goodbyes to everyone and left wishing I had more time. My trip would take about a week of travel at a comfortable pace. I walked the back woods to a little village in the Honshu mountains. The village had a Yoriki. With that level of law enforcement I thought this would be a safe place to stay for the evening.
In the morning I cleaned up and found a friend. I saw a boy about my age putting his things into a wicker backpack. He looked to be a peasant as well and in the middle of a trip, judging by the backpack. I walked over to him.
"My name is Ichiro." I bowed to him. He smiled and returned my bow. After he stood up I said, "Have you eaten rice today?"
"No, I have not. My name is...." Honestly, I do not recall.
I started a small cooking fire with some embers from the guard's fire while he got the rice ready. I remember he was coming from a small town in the Wajima peninsula and headed to another small town to stay with an aunt. He had many questions but he was good company. I liked him. He was the third son of a farmer and not used to getting any attention from what I could tell. We traveled together for two days.
The day after he and I parted I happened upon two young samurai going in the same
direction as me. They both appeared to be Bandai. I could not tell which family they belonged to as both wore kimono with the Bandai crest patterned across the material. They appeared to be of the right age to be attending the school so I followed them just in case it provided an opening once we were there. After about a quarter of an hour I saw them notice me following them. They kept looking back and talking amongst themselves. After a few more moments they stopped and one of them yelled at me.
"Why are you following us?"
I continued to approach and replied with a bow, "I am
not
following you, Bandai sama. I am going to the village of Ninja's Grace."
The village was up ahead a few days travel from where we were. They both nodded as if that made sense and then one of them said, "Walk before us. I do not like being followed."
I bowed and did as he asked. As I walked by I heard him unlock his blade from its saya. As I have said before, Iaijutsu is the art of drawing your sword and attacking in the same swing. In this case it's called a "Crossroads Cut." What I have not said before, is that some samurai practice Iaijutsu this way because heimin are beneath them. Heimin exist to make them goods and food, and if they happen to get protection from the samurai, then fine. But protection is not their right.
When I heard him unlock his blade I quickly jumped forward out of range just in time for him to miss me with his swing. For this samurai that was bad. I jumped back towards him with a full kick to the stomach. He bent over from the blow and I smashed his nose on my left knee. Before either knew what was happening I had his head in a choking move and stepped back to break his neck. I dropped the dead boy and looked at his friend. He just looked between his dead comrade and me for several moments with big scared eyes.